Method and apparatus for making tags



1,645,01 Oct. 11, 1927. H. E. KONDOLF 3 HETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGTAGS Filed Nov. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Till. v v I 2. 4r

ATTORNE I O Oct 27 H. E. KONDOLF METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TAGSFiled Nov. 5. 1926 2 Sheds-Sheet? ZVENTOR ATToRNEw Patented Oct. 11,1927.

UNITED STATES raiser QHWEQE.

HENRY E. KONDGLF, OF NEW YGRK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE LOX SEAL CORPORA-TION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPOEA'IZOIQ' OE NEXV YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATU$ FOB MAKING'TAGS.

Application filed November 5 which a swatch is associated, neverthelessit will be understood that as to certain phases of my invention, theparticular nature or characteristics of the tag, other than thosedirectly contemplated by my method or apparatus, is not essential.

Briefly, tags of the general character to which my invention relates areconstituted of superposed layers of material 0 arranged and constructedas to provide a pocket or locking chamber therebetween, and the layersare so connected as to render the pocket totally inaccessible exceptthrough a preformed opening or by means of a puncturing instrumentality.Such a tag is provided with a. binding tie having one end irremovablypositioned within the pocket, and hav ing the other end free forthreading through a portion of the article of merchandise, it beingcontemplated that the free end will thereafter be similarly positionedin an in removable manner within the pocket, as by passage through anopening, puncturing, or otherwise. More particularly, it may be statedthat the binding tie may advantageously be provided with adjustablelocking tips whose nature renders the contemplated use possible,although it will be understood that the nature of these tips is notmaterial to the present invention.

More generally, my invention relates to the manufacture of tags inseries by the utilization of a single blank of material.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an apparatus whichis simply constructed and whose employment, after 0 ain preliminaryarrangements andassociations of parts of the tag, will complete themanufacture of the tags by a unitary operation. Briefly, my inventioncontemplates the initial arrangement of the super Serial No. M5537.

posed layersof the tag, and the subsequent unitary procedure ofcompressing the layers to unite them and also severing them accord.- ingto predetermined plan.

More particularly, my invention contemplates the utilization of a singleblank of 6 material to produce a number of tags, the blank beingsuitably treated, as by adhesive, being suitably associated with bindingties and swatches (where desired), and being thereafter doubled overupon itself in a manner whereby pressure and severance willautomatically produce a plurality of com-' pleted tags.

One feature of theinvention lies in combining with pressure means whoseeffect is the exertion of a pressure of one characteristic, of cuttingmeans simultaneously oper able and whose effect is the exertion of asevering force or forces of a different characteristic. Moreparticularly, the pressure exerted is one which is increasing in nature,being of a character which will compress successive portions of theblank; whereas the cutting instrumentality is one which will produce adirect or non-increasing severance, or in other words one which isnon-shearing in its effect.

In a. preferred embodiment, the pressure means comprises relativelymovable pressure members which may be pivotally associated with eachother so as to sandwich the tag layers therebetween, the members beingso constructed and arranged that their adjustment into parallelsuperposition will entail the gradually increasing exertion of pressureupon the layers.

One feature of the invention lies in providing the cuttinginstrumentality in a manner which renders it movable in part with and inpart relative to said pressure members, the movement with the membersrendering possible the desirable unitary pro cedure, and the movementrelative to the members rendering possible the differentcharacteristicsof the pressure and severance operations. More particularly, the cuttinginstrumentality is so arranged and constructed that when the pressuremembers are adjusted to compress the layers therebetween, an automaticadjustment of the cutting means will take place.

In general, it will be understood that my apparatus relates to thetreatmentof substantially flat articles. And theeleme'nts of th.apparatus are so that the can ting edges will automatically adjust themselves into parallelism with the article and will thereafter moveperpendicularly thereto so as to produce, the severance in anon-shearing manner. At. the same time, the pressure members willcompress the article in a manner which is peculiarly efficient in theper-. manent cementing together of superposed layers.

A preferred embodiment provides hinged pressure members which may bebrought into parallel superposition with a space there between equal inthickness to that of the compressed article. One ofthe members isprovided-with grooves in which a plurality of blades are frictionallyand movably pos1-' edges'of the blades parallel to the article eventhough pressure is-being exerted only upon one end of thearticle. As theexternal pressure means is applied further, the blades will be forcedthrough the article in a direction perpendicular thereto, and themembers will gradually be brought into parallelism,

thereby exerting an increasing pressure from one end of the article tothe other.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects'and such other objects asmay hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated oneembodiment of my invention in a the accompanying drawings in which- Fig.1 is a perspective view of a completed tag associated with a garment,the tag shown being illustrative of the type to which this inventionrelates;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank suitably treated and associated withbinding ties;

Fig.3 is a plan view of the pressure mem-I here in relatively openedpositions the blank of Fig. 2 being shown in suitable initialassociation therewith;

Fig; 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 sluiwing the pressure members inclosed relationship; Fig. 5 is across-sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 55 of Fig. 1;

ig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 ofFig. 1:

Fig.7 isa view'similar to Fig. 6 showing a subsequent adjustment of thevarious elements; and i Fig; 8 is a cross-sectional viewtaken sub.stantially along the line 88 ofFig. 4.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a completed tag,

, tag.

con'iprising a body portion 10 provided with a pocket 11 in which theends of a binding tie 12 are irremovably positioned. It will beunderstood. that before the tag is fixedly associated with a garment asshown in Fig. 1,

one of the ends of the tie 12 is free and hence threadable through aconvenient portion of the garment beforebeing irremovably thread- 7 edinto the pocket 11. This inseparable association of the tie 12 with thebody portion 10 ofthe tag renders it impossible to.dis associate the tagfrom the garment without either mutilating the garment, the tie 12,orthe tag itself.

For illustrative purposes, the tag illus- 'trated' has been providedwitha detachable end stub 13 beneath whicha small sample or swatch 14 isinseparably associated with'the It will be understood, however, afterthis specification has been read, that these modifiable details of thetag are not essential to the present invention.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrate-d a preferred method of manufacturing thesetags in quantity. I prefer to employ a single rectangular blank 15 whichis scored along a medial longitudinal line 16, this scoring beingsuitably configured at spaced portions 17 to provide for the properformation of the pocket 1.1. It will be obvious that this method ofmanufacture contemplates the folding over of the blank 15 along thescoring 16 and 17 so as to form superposed layers or plies. Before thisprocess'of doubling over is entered into, a series of binding ties 18are associated with the blank so as to position a midportion of eachthereof on one side of the blank and the end portions thereof on theother side. 1 Each binding tie 18 is threaded through spaced openingsalong the scoring 16. This threading takes place at the portions 17, andtherefore each binding tie extends from the rear of the blank throughone portion 17 to the front of the blank,

thence returning to the rear of the blank again by passage through theadjacent portion 17. In addition to properly positioning the bindingties in this manner the side of the blank upon which the midportions aredisposed is then preferably coated with an dhesive along a predeterminedarea 19. In the embodiment shown, this area constitutes a band which isnarrower than the blank 15.

and it will thus be obvious that after the blank is doubled upon itselfthe application of the adhesive will cause a predetermined area of thesuperposed layers to be fixedly associated with each other, at the sametime causing the end portions of the blank to remain mutuallyunattached. It will also be obvious that the midportions oft-he tics 18will be securely held between the attached layers.

The invention contemplates the severance of the doubled-over blank alongtransverse lines arranged between the portions 1?. In this way, aplurality of tags are provided, each thereof embodying one portion of anoriginal binding tie 18. One end of this portion will be fixedlyretained between the layers of the tag, and the other end will beextended outwardly through the pocket 11 which willhare been formed,thereby providing a freely threadable end.

In the manufacture of tags by a method of these characteristics, it isalso possible to associate with theblanl: 15 ,a piece of material whichwill subsequently constitute a swatch of the character shown at let inFig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I have shown the blanlt15 already doubled overupon itself, and it will be observed that I have shown a piece ofmaterial interposed between the layers, this embodiment consequentlyillustrating the employment of my invention in the manufacture of tagsof the character shown in Fig. 1.

The apparatus with which the doubled-over blank is associated incontemplation of the present invention, comprises relatively movablepressure members 21 and 22, these members being substantiallyrectangular and be ing preferably hinged together along adjacentlongitudinal edges so as to render them relatively pivotal. 'I haveshown hinges 2% which permit the member 21 and 22 to be relativelyopened as shown in Fig. 3, and to be subsequently moved pivotally ofeach other so as to bring them into superposition.

The members 21 and 22 are preferably of a length substantially equal to,or possibly slightly larger than. the length of the blank 15. Themembers 21 and 22 are also made of widths which are almost one-halfagain as wide as tae width of the doubled-over blank 15.

Referring now more particularly to the member 21, it will be observedthat I have shown a facing plate 24 which is preferably of soft metal.such as aluminum. At the outer longitudinal edge of the member 21- Iprovide a suitably configured end plate or strin25. This plate is moreclearly shown in Fig. 8, and at suitably spaced portions thereof theplate is depressed slightly and is provided at these depressed portionswith openings'or slots through which the ends of the binding ties18 mayextend.

I also prefer to provide pins 26 suitably positioned and arranged toconstitute stops or abutments for one longitudinal edge of thedoubled-over blank.

Reference to Fig. 3 will show how the doubled-over blank is positionedupon the facing plate 2 1; The end constituted by the, original scoring16 is laid alongthe plate the ends of'the binding ties being passedoutwardly to the exterior of the plate 25. The other longitudinal edgeof the doubledover blanlris madeto .abutagainst the pins 26, it beingunderstood that the arrangetion further contemplates the application ofpressure to the superposed pressure members, thispressure serving (1) tofirmly compress the superposed layers so as to attach them to each otherand to associate the binding ties and the swatch therewith, and (2)simultaneously to sever the doubled-over-blank in accordance withpredetermined plan. In this way, it is contemplated that bya unitaryprocedure a plurality of completed tags will have been formed. 4

In order that the pockets 11 may be properly formed. it is essentialthat the superposed plies be not compressed at the portions which are toconstitute the opposite walls of the pockets. For-this reason, and forthe added reason of definitely and etficiently formingtho pockets, thepressure members 21 and 22 are provided with suitably configured cut-outportions 27 and 28 respectively, these portions being substantiallyUshaped as shownin Fig. 3, and the respective portions 27 and 28 beingregisterable with each other, as will be readily under stood.

Referring now more particularly to the pressure member 22, Ihave-provided a. plurality. of grooves 29, transversely; arranged inparallelism to each other and extending from the free longitudinal, edgeof the-pressure member 22 to points short of the hinged edge. Thesegrooves are arranged intermediate the cut-outportions 28,- and aredesigned to accommodate cutting instrumentalities, such as blades, whichwill function when the pressure members are superposed upon one another.I

In ll have illustrated the pressure members arranged in superposedpositions. By virtue of the provision ofregistering cut-out portions 27and 28, portions 11 of the doubled-over blanlr are clearly shown asbeing unsubjected to the sandwiching pressure of the pressure nembers.Each of these portionsll' will eventually constitute a pocket 11 shownin Fig. 1.

The pressure members are so related to each other and with respect tothe-hinge memers 23 that they may be'brought into parallel supernosition with a space betweenthem having a thickness equal'to the-thickness ofa con'ipressed sandwiched article or blank. A plurality of blades '30are provided, each blade being frictionally disposed within one of; thegrooves 29 so as to be adjustable therein. The blades are substantiallyrectangular, and are of a lengthsubstantially equal to the'length of thegrooves, and of a width slightly greater than the width of the pres-.sure member 22. 'More particularly, the

blades arewider than the thickness of the pressuremember 22 by an amountequal to the space between the superposed parallel pressure members. Thelatter are preferably constructed of lannnated material, such as wood,and properfrictional engagement of the blades within the grooves may beadvantageously provided as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to this figure, and also to Fig; 4, it will, be seen that eachblade isprovided with a recess 31 extending transversely-of the bladefrom its outer edge. Positionable withineach recess, is a clamp orstaple 32, thisst-aple being preferably of sinuous or crimpedconstruction, it being contemplated that the staple will be driven intothe presproper frictional'engagement of the blades,

sure member 22 much as a nail would be driven. It will be obvious thatthe staples 32 will serve the double function of posi tiv'ely retainingthe opposite walls of the grooves in'desired proximity so as to assureand of'constituting retaining members which willpreventthe blades fromslipping-out of the grooves when the pressure member 22 is turned upsidedown as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 7 clearly illustrates the preferred laminated nature of thepressure members 21 and 22, the disposition of the blades 30 withinthegrooves 29,v and the sandwiched position of the doubled-over blank15. In

this figure-I have shown the pressure memher 22 provided with a facingplate 33 corresponding to the facing plate 24 of the pressure member 21,although the provision of such plates is not essential to theinvention.'

"Fig. Sclearly ilIuStrateS the manner in which the blank 15 is snuglypositioned be tween the end plate 25 and the stops 26.

The latter are preferablymounted in a ance of a differentcharacteristic. 551' trative form of a member 34 operable in any desiredmanner and suitablyconfigured so as to permit movementthereof to exertpressure upon the superposed pressure members. More" particularly, theinvention contemnlates'that the superposedpressure memhers, with theblank sandwiched therebetween, will be laid upon a supporting base 35,and that the member-J34 will thereupon move slowly toward'th'e base 35so as to force the pressure members into absolute parallel-- ism.Considering this operation step by step, it will be obvious that theblades 30, by virtue of their increased widths, will be the first toencounter the sandwiched blank 15. r

In greater detail, and considering only one blade for the sake .ofclarity, I will explain that this blade will be initially arrangedwithin its groove 29 so that its rear edge will lie flush with. theoutersurface of the pressure member 22. When the latter is folded over on thepressure member 21, a point 36.01? the cutting edge of the blade .willencounter the inner longitudinal edge of the blank 15. When the-pressuremember 34 moves downwardly. it will first engage the outermost edge 37of the pressure member 22. At the same time, it will also engage theoutermost rear point of the blade 30. The combined forces upon theblade, viz, the downward force atthe point 37 and the upward force atthe point '36 will cause the blade to rotate relatively to the pressuremember 22. and this rotation will cause the blade to assume a positionwherein its cutting edge will lie parallel to theflat article 15. Thisposition ofthe blade 30 is illustrated in Fig. 6, and it will beunderstood that the various elements of the device are so proportionedand arranged that at this instant the inner surface of the pressuremember 22 will also be encountering the inner longitudinal edge of theblank 15.

Now, as the pressure member 34 continues to move downwardly, it willsimultaneously force the blade perpendicularly through the blank 15, andforce the pressure-member 22 into parallelisnrvvith the pressure member21.. The perpendicular movement of, the blade 30 will causethe latter tosever the blank 15 in a non-shearing manner. But

the pivotal movement of the pressure member 22W1ll cause the latter toexert a gradually increas ng pressure upon the blank 15,

this pressure being one which increases,.or

compresses successive portions of the blank 15, from thefreelongitudinal inner edge to the outer or doubled-over longitudinal edge.A very desirable effect is thereby produced. The severance is clean anduniform, while the pressure is of a character which is pee-11 liarlyefficient in forcing together the superposed layers of a doubled-overblank. In other words, the pressure is one which produces a cleanlower'edge upon the finished tag, any adjustment'of possible excessmaterial. being taken care of at the outer or pocket end of the tag.

By virtue of the relative proportions of the elements, they will assumethe positions shown in Fig. 7 after the pressure member 3 1 a has beencompletely operative. It will be observed that the rear edges of theblade 30 are once more flush with the-outer surface of the pressuremember 22; the pressure members 21 and 22 are in absolute parallelismwith the compressed article sandwiched therebetween; and the cuttingedges of the blades are resting against the facing plate 24, havingclearly cut all the Way through the compressed article.

IVhen the pressure member 8&- is released, the pressure members 21 and22 may be again opened, and after the plurality of completed tags havebeen removed, the process may be repeated.

It will be obvious that many changes in the details herein described andillustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It istherefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative,and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In an apparatus fori'naking articles of the character described, in combination, relativelymovable pressure members adapted to engage the article therebetween,pressure means for forcing said members together to compress thearticle, and means operable by said pressure means for cutting thearticle in a predetermined manner during said compression.

2. In an apparatus for making articles of the character described, incombination, relatively movable pressure members adapted to engage thearticle therebetween, means for cutting the article in a predeterminedmanner during said compression, and pressure means independently andsimultaneously operable upon the pressure members and the cutting meansfor simultaneously forcing said members together to compress the articleand cutting the article in said predetermined manner.

3. In an apparatus for making articles of the character described, incombination, relatively movable pressure members adapted to engage thearticle therebetween, pressure means for forcing said members togetherto compress the article, and means operable by said pressure means forcutting the article in a predetermined manner during said compression,said last named means being arranged and constructed to move in partwith and in part relatively to said members.

a. In an apparatus for making articles of the character described, incombination, relatively movable pressure members adapted to engage thearticle therebetween, pressure means for forcing said members togetherto compress the article, and means operable by said pressure means forcutting the article in a predetermined manner during said compression,said last named means being constructed and arranged to move with saidmembers to render the cutting'and compression a unitary operation. a

5. In an apparatus for making articles of the character described, incombination, relatively movable pressure members adapted to engage thearticle therebetween, pressure means for forcing said members togetherto compress the article, and means operable by said pressure means forcutting the article in a predetermined manner during said compression,said last named means being constructed and arranged to move with saidmembers to render the cutting and compression a unitary operation, andalso to move relatively of said members to render the character of thecutting independent of the movement of said members.

6. In an apparatus for making articles of the character described, thecombination of means for cutting one of said articles in one direction,and means for actuating said cutting means and for simultaneouslyexerting pressure upon said article in directions difterent in part fromsaid cutting direction.

7. In an apparatus for treating fiat articles of the characterdescribed, the combination of means for cutting one of said articles ina direction perpendicular thereto, and means for exerting substantiallynorm al pressure upon successivelongitudinal porti ons thereof duringthe cutting operation.

8. In an apparatus for treating flat articles of the characterdescribed, the combination of means for cutting one of said articles ina direction perpendicular thereto, and means for exerting substantiallynor mal pressure upon successive longitudinal portions thereof duringthe cutting Operation, said last named means comprising pivotallyassociated pressure members arranged and constructed to permit parallelsuperposition thereof with the articletherebetween.

9. In an apparatus for treating flat articles of the characterdescribed, the combination of means for cutting one of said articles ina direction perpendicular thereto, and means for exerting substantiallynormal pressure upon successive longitudinal pore tioim thereof duringthe cutting operation, said last named means comprising relativelypivotal pressure members, and said cutting means comprising a pluralityof knives movable with one of said members.

10. In an apparatus for treating fiat articles of the characterdescribed, a pair 'of pivotally associated pressure members adapted toreceive an article therebetween and to compress the same in anincreasing manner by pivotally movingthem into mutual superposition, andmeans for cutting the article in a non-shearing manner during saidmovement.

11. In an apparatus for treating fiat articles of the characterdescribed, a pair of pivotally associated pressure members adapted toreceive an article therebetween and to compress the same in anincreasing manner by pivotally moving them into mutual superposition,and means for severing the article along predetermined lines during saidmovement, said means comprising movable blades whose edges are parallelto the article during their movements. 7

12. In an apparatus for treating fiat articles of the characterdescribed, a pair of pivotally associated pressure members adapted toreceivean article therebetween, a plurality of relatively movable bladesassociated with said members, and means for pressing/the members intosuperposition and simultaneously forcing the blades into engagement withthe article to sever the latter, said blades being so constructed andarranged that their actuation by said means will cause themautomatically to position their cutting edges parallel to the article.

13. In an apparatus for pressing together and cutting the superposedlayers of articles of the character described, a. pair of pivotallyassociated pressure members adapted to receive an article therebetween,one of saidmembers being provided with grooves and a plurality of bladesfrictionally disposed in said grooves to permit movem ent of theblades'both with and relative to said member, whereby the blades willencounter the article, when the pressure members are ment of the latterwill cause the blades to encounter the article in a manner which willinitially adjust the blades relative to the member.

15. In an apparatus for pressing'together and cutting the superposedlayers of articles of the character described, a pair ofrelativelyadjustable pressure'members adapted to receivesaid layerstherebetween, a plurality of blades associated with said members in amanner which renders the blades movable with and also relatively to saidmembers, and means for pressing said members together in a manner whichexerts pressure upon said layers in an increasing manner from one end tothe other thereof, said blades being arranged so that their encountersWith the layers during the operation of said means will cause them toadjust themselves relatively to said members.

16. In an apparatus for forming ta wherein doubled-over layers aredesigned to be partially compressed so as to form a pocket therebetweenat one end thereof, relatively movable pressure members adapted tosandwich and oompress'the layers therebetween, said members beingarranged and constructed to avoid compression of those portions of thelayers which define said pocket. V

17. In an apparatus for forming tags wherein doubled over layers aredesigned to form a pocket therebetween at one end there of, relativelyadjustable pressure members so, mounted and arranged with respect toeach other that adjustment thereof will sand wich and compress thelayers therebetween, said members having cut-out portions so configuredand positioned as to prevent compression of those portions of the layerswhich define said pocket.

18. The method of making tags of the character described, whichcomprises threading a series of binding elements through a continuousblank in a manner which posi tions the ends of each element on one sideof the blankand a mid-portion of each elementron the other side,applying an ad hesive to the side of'the mid-portion, folding theblankupon itself to provide superposed layers with said mid-portionstherebetween, compressing said layers at all but the areas around thepoints of threading, and cutting the blank transversely of said foldbetween each point of threading.

19. The method of making tags of the character described which comprisespassing a binding element through spaced points on a blank so as to"position a mid-portlon of the element on one side of the blank, foldingthe latter upon itself to enclose said mid-portion, compressing thefolded blank at' all but the areas around said spaced points, andsevering the blank between said spaced points.

20. The method of making tags of the character described, whichcomprises thread-,

ing a binding tie through a blank to position portions thereof onopposite sides of the blank, folding the blank upon itself to providesuperposed layers engaging one of said portions, and exertingpressureupon all but the areas adjacent the points of threading, so asto provide a device which is separable into a plurality of tags each ofwhich has an uncompressed pocket portion from which a binding tieextends.

21. The method of making tags of the character described, whichcomprises the step or steps of folding a blank upon itself to providesuperposed layers of tag material,

and exerting pressure upon all but spaced areas along the fold line soas to provide a device which is separable into a plurality of tags, eachof which has an uncompressed portion adjacent the fold line.

22. The method of making tags of the character described, whichcomprises the step or steps of coating one side of a blank withadhesive, folding the blank upon itself 10 to provide superposed layersof tag material with said adhesive therebetween, and exertingpressureupon all but spaced areas along the fold line so as to provide adevice Which is separable into a plurality of tags each of whichcomprises mutually attached superposed layers of tag material and aninaccessible pocket adjacent the fold line.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification.

HENRY E. KONDOLF.

